Cowboy Crafts Online

Tim, Call up Jeremiah Watt and order his saddle making Videos. It will be the best money you will spend. You will learn alot more from him than a book. I believe there is an old issue of Leather Crafters Journal that went over Sam Stagg Riggins as well, you might want to call them up and get that issue as well Ashley

Steve, I would use HideHouse I have found that they have the most constant selection of chap leather out there. They also run specials. They have buffalo chap sides 5/6 and 8/9 on sale right now for I think somewhere around 2.50 a sqft Ashley

I have a few friends that are trappers. They have been saving me thier beaver tails, since they say a pair of beaver tail buck rolls I made. Does anyone have any idea on how I should tan them. I was thinking of using tannery in a box from Tandy. Any ideas? Ashley

I would have to agree with Andy 5 sides for 2 saddles. If this is your first saddle you are going to waste leather until your patterns get developed and you start learning how to lay out patterns on you sides. Ashley

Has anyone tried to make Bar Grounders. Ashley

Try this place they have up to 32 oz Canvas. Great to deal with. http://www.ahh.biz/fabric_catagories/cotton_canvases.htm Ashley

Have you ever thought of buying some from Barry King. I got a set of Roberts Bevelers when I first started and hardly ever use them anymore. I would call up Barry same quality and youll get them faster. Ashley

Greg, Those are nice, I bet they are time consuming though. Ashley

Steve, The saddle tree is Association, made by Rod Nikkel. I do have my rawhide fairly dry when I lace up the swells on the saddle. I have done quite a few with laced up swells so I have learned by trial and error on how wet to have the rawhide. Ashley

Hilly, I am sorry to say, but your not going to save any money getting your own hides tanned. I know its a waste, there is a guy around here that goes to the slaughter houses and buys up all the hides and then hauls them to a tannery, I think he hauls several hundred at a time. One time he bought me a couple of straps that he used to hold them down to fix. He had not even cleaned them. I didnt even let them in my shop. I just got a flyer the other day from Wickett and Craig they are selling off an over stock of SP 12 to 15 oz skirting for 122.00 a side untill they run out. That might intrest you. Ashley

Rod, I use a combination of a flower and box stamp from the Watts. Did not really have fun stamping this saddle made my eyes cross. It did turn out good though I think. Ashley

I havent posted in awhile but here is a saddle I finished up a few months ago. I didnt relize how dark it was outside when I took the pictures so they did not turn out very good. I shipped it off before I looked at them so didnt have a chance to take better ones. But here they are anyway. It was built on a tree by Rod Nikkel. I hope I did them justice. I will try to get more things posted down the rode. If anyone is going to the Ranch Rodeo Finals in Amarillo stop by and say hi to me.

Greg, Thank you for letting Waddy know that I am a guy. Should have changed my name as a kid, I have gotten that kinda thing my whold life. Are you still going to the Finals? I am sure Ill be by to chat. Ashley

I can get you Bills phone number. He lives about an hour away from me. if you can not get ahold of him sometime when I go visit I could try to get you some tapes. Ashley

Don, Nice work on those saddles. I saw your little spot on all around perfomance horse. Got me thinking of when I use to live down in Wheelock TX. If I ever go back down and visit Ill have to stop by your shop. ashley

I have a Timberline made wade tree that I would sell, it would finish with a 16" seat. Ashley

I just wanted everyone to know I got my new Round Knive and Bench Knive from Jeff at J Cook Blades. The are very sharp and keep a edge, they also feel very good better than the ones I was using before. Ashley

I have a consew 206rb. I do not know what kind of leather you are looking to sew. I use it to sew chap leather. You will not be able to sew skirting leather. Other than that it has been a good machine for me. I bought mine off ebay a few years ago, brand new for I think 850.00. I did the set up on it. So I would say 1000 is a good price. Ashley

did you find your sole supplier? If not i have boot soles at my shop, when I use to repair boots. I buy them from a local boot and shoe repair supply wearhouse. Let me know Ashley

Kevin or Alan I have been thinking about getting Brian Neubert's video on braiding so I can start. What do you guys think of the videos? Also what would be the best to start out on? What I want to b able to end up doing is Bosal's, Romal Reins, and Reata's Ashley

Now this list is bare bones what I think it would take to build a saddle. I am leaving some tools out like bag/slot punches, because you can punch 2 holes and then cut in between to make the slot for example. Here is my start. Round knive - mine is from J Cook Blades Bench knive - I have JWP and J Cook Blades Draw knive - get an old osborn off ebay they are better then the ones you buy new set of 1 -12 drive punches - CS Osborn Rawhide Mallet Rawhide Maul Saddlers Hammer - I started with a Osborn then when to a JWP Smooth Face Hammer - Osborn or JWP Sewing Awl - have to call Bob Douglas # 3 or 4 round edger - Osborn low end, Ron tools, Barry King, JWP, and Bob Douglas High end Tape Measure - local Lumber yard Square - again Lumber yard Yard Stick - lumber yard Some type of hand skive - cheap potato pealer type from tandy/tlf or spoke shave Bench top Skive - I have an old Osborn from ebay glue pot 4 carpenter awls - lumber yard wing dividers sewing needles - call Sheridan Leather Outfitters 2 different size rosset cutters or take a drive punch grind off one side and cut out rossets that way - Bob Douglas, Osborn, or Weaver leather old ceramic door knob - antique buisness Cantle pliers - osborn or JWP One last thing buy JWP how to build a saddle DVD. you will learn alot from it I think with those tools you could build a saddle, again there are other tools that you will have to buy to make work faster, but these I think you can not do with out. Also some things you are going to have to build for your self like a draw down stand.

I forgot today that I had to take the kids to school to get registered. I didnt get to go to the shop. I plan on thinking about what I need to list tomarrow. I am sure I am going to leave some things out, but I will to the best I can. Ashley

Hey everyone I was thinking I think there is alot of people finding out about the site that have never built a saddle but might want to. What do you guys think about telling what the basic set of tools needed to build a saddle? I am going to go to the shop tomarrow and pick out the things I use the most and post them tomarrow. Ashley

Saddle Maker, I dont want to turn you away from building saddles, but it sounds like your starting off on the wrong foot by trying to cut corners with the most important materials that you are going to need to become a good saddle maker. You say that you do not want saddle trees and leather that will not break the bank, but quality materials come at a higher cost then cheap ones. For example you can buy top quality us hides from $150 and up or you can buy cheap import hides for under $100. What you will find out is that those cheap import hides will cause you more problems and you will make less per hide because they are crap and dont yield enough per square foot. Also on the lines of saddle trees you can spend $100.00 or less on a cheap factory made tree or go with a great handmade tree for $600.00. The question is are you wanting to compete with factory saddles like Billy Cook or are you wanting to be compared with the top makers in the US. The choice is up to you. I would recommend building a couple of saddles before you jump into opening a shop. There is alot of other things you havent considered, like what tools your going to need. I would say a bare min your going to spend $2000 without a sewing machine, add that and you'll be up to $5000. I would also recommend calling up Jeremiah Watt and getting his saddlemaking DVD and see what all goes into building a saddle. One last thing your going to screw up alot of leather before you fig out what your doing if your learning on your own, so be prepared. Stick around the forum, you can learn alot here. I am just telling you what I think. It is great thing to build saddles, but it is not always the easiest and cheepest things to do. Ashley

I am making a pair of rawhide Bulldog taps. I talked to Rod today and asked what he recommends to seal them. I was wanting some more feed back on what everyone thinks. So what all do you guys recommend to seal rawhide Tapaderos. Ashley